Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-25

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

How sugar is produced from sugar cane

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagram shows the process of making sugar from sugar cane. It means how is sugar made from sugar cane.

Overall, this process consist of seven stages. First of all, the sugar cane are grown in the field. It is harvested by machine or farmer himself. Then it is processed by crushing. After a long process it is put in a centrifuge where separates sugar crystal from syrup. And then it is dried and cooled.

Initially, the sugar cane are grown in the field when it grown within 12 to 18 months . It is harvested by machine or farmer himself. Then it is crushed through the crushing machine. After it is converted into juice so it is put in a limestone where purifies the juice. Thus, it is evporated on the stove where juice becomes syrup. Therefore, it is put in a centrifuge where it is sperated from syrup. Finially, it is dried and cooling until it becomes sugar. Then it is sales in markets, stores and shops.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and give a clear overall summary that the process has seven stages, from growing the cane to drying and cooling the sugar. You also include the 12–18-month growing period, both harvesting methods, crushing, purification, evaporation and centrifuging. Some details are less fully or accurately described: the cane is crushed to extract juice, and the juice is purified through a limestone filter, rather than being put “in a limestone.” The final claim that the product is sold in markets and shops is not shown in the diagram, so avoid adding it. A more precise account of how the centrifuge separates crystals from syrup would also make the process clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and a more detailed account of the stages. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and connectors such as “Initially,” “Then” and “Finally” help guide the reader. However, progression becomes mechanical because many sentences begin with “It is” or “Then,” and some links do not clearly express the process relationship. For example, “After a long process” is vague, while “Thus” and “Therefore” do not add a clear logical connection. The overview also repeats several details that appear again in the body. Grouping the stages into clearer phases and using more precise references to the juice, syrup and crystals would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “crushing machine,” “limestone,” “centrifuge,” “syrup” and “crystal,” so the reader can identify most stages. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, particularly with “put” and “process,” and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “put in a limestone” should refer to passing through a limestone filter, and “farmer himself” is an awkward way to describe manual harvesting. Spelling errors such as “evporated,” “sperated” and “Finially” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process verbs and standard spelling; this will make the description more fluent and technically clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “where,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. However, some errors in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction remain. For example, “this process consist” needs subject–verb agreement, and “the sugar cane are grown” should use a singular or plural subject consistently. The clause “where separates sugar crystal from syrup” is incomplete; write, for example, “where sugar crystals are separated from the syrup.” There are also tense and form problems in “when it grown” and “it is dried and cooling.” Review passive constructions, which are useful for process descriptions, and check each sentence for a complete subject and verb.

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